Friday, October 19, 2012

"A Spokane psychologist who helped develop controversial interrogation methods, which some human rights groups say amount to torture, became the new spiritual leader of a Mormon congregation on the South Hill this week.

"Bruce Jessen was proposed by Spokane Stake President James Lee, or 'called' in the terminology of the Mormon faith, to be the bishop of Spokane's 6th Ward, approved by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hierarchy in Salt Lake City and presented to the congregation on Sunday. He was unanimously accepted by some 200 in attendance, Lee said."

Now, it's none of my business anymore who the Mormons call as a bishop. I'm well out of their church. They could call Charles Manson to be a bishop, and it would have no effect on me. Still, I find this to be an instructive moral lesson.

Because think about it: if you drink coffee, you're "unworthy" to enter a Mormon temple. On the other hand if you torture people, you're perfectly "worthy" to be a Mormon bishop, who is actually one of the people who decides how "worthy" other Mormons are. Thank goodness we have churches to teach us about morality like that, because I would never, ever, have figured that one out on my own.

Oh, and just for good measure, here's another quote from the stake president:

"He'll take a beating in the press before he sets the record straight," Lee said. "The whole story has not been told."

"He'll take a beating"? No, actually, it's his victims who took beatings (and worse). Not him. The most that'll happen to him is that some people will tell the truth about him in a little newspaper and maybe an obscure blog or two. If only that was the worst thing that happened to Jessen's victims.